Downtown is a gem waiting to be polished

While Stockton's downtown is generally safe - you might say its bark is worse than its blight - it is light years from an economic boon, or even a healthy neighborhood.

Michael Fitzgerald

While Stockton's downtown is generally safe - you might say its bark is worse than its blight - it is light years from an economic boon, or even a healthy neighborhood.

What are its prospects for 2013?

"Right now it's all about setting the stage," said Wendy Saunders, Stockton's economic development director.

"Our challenge is to lay the groundwork for creating an environment that is inviting so that when the market comes back, we've created a place that has promise," Saunders said.

That's a handful. Stockton has barely begun to recover from the Great Recession; the stony-broke city has filed for bankruptcy; Gov. Jerry Brown eliminated redevelopment agencies in 2011.

Yet there is good news.

Local restaurateur Bruce Davies, anticipating a downtown comeback, plans to close Le Bistro and open a Cajun restaurant in the Paragary's space in the Hotel Stockton in April.

A successful restaurant would further revive downtown's northwest corner. Especially since Davies has plans to link to boaters and fans at the arena and ballpark.

"Stockton's downtown is right on the verge of exploding," Davies said in January. "That's why we're here."

Next door, urban developer Dan Cort has plans to transform the historic B&M Building into a cafe, wine bar and specialty grocery store. He envisions tables outside on Janet Leigh Plaza.

In central downtown, Cort's son, Zac Cort, is remaking the old Newberry building at 331 E. Weber Ave. into offices, a restaurant and day care.

"I believe we need to truly develop infill with retail, restaurants - we need to have a walkable community down here," Zac Cort said. He has bought up other downtown properties, as well.

Specialists from The Urban Land Institute suggested last year to rejuvenate Miner Avenue, so as to build on the success of the Cabral ACE station, before tackling downtown's core.

Consequently, the city drafted a $10 million plan to gussy up Miner. Leaders will ask Uncle Sam for the money on their annual One Voice trip to Washington this spring.

A sea change in Stockton city government promises results, too. City Manager Bob Deis replaced the red tape mongers in the Community Development Department with business-friendly people.

In another change, the Downtown Stockton Alliance replaced a do-nothing leader with a go-getter. The Alliance also funded two Stockton Police bicycle cops to patrol downtown.

The next step for downtown is housing for neighborhood residents.

"Until there's bodies down here 24 hours a day that are doing productive things, these venues that are here and set up to receive activity are not going to thrive," said the Downtown Alliance's Emily Baime.

But in the tough economy, few private investors are willing to invest in big downtown housing projects.

Worse, when Gov. Brown eliminated redevelopment, he not only took away the city's ability to partner with private investors, the draconian law requires Stockton to sell off redevelopment assets.

For example, the city must sell 8.8 acres of land on the south bank of the channel. On that land the city hoped to build homes, perhaps even a hotel. It still hopes to.

"We've lost all of our powers to be partners in private development, our monetary powers," Saunders said. But, "we still have the ability to make the land use approval process easier. That's very meaningful."

Though circumstances are far from ideal, there remain people who love the downtown and recognize its importance and potential.

Zac Cort: "You've got the history, you got the water, there's all the resources we could offer. Can Stockton be a great city again? I think downtown could be the catalyst. I truly, truly believe that."